Discerning Leadership and Understanding Sin in Faith

Devotional

Day 1: Discernment in Nominating Servant Leaders

The process of nominating new servant leaders is a significant spiritual exercise for our community. It involves prayerful discernment and understanding the responsibilities involved. This is an opportunity to seek God's guidance in choosing those who will lead us in faith and service for the next two years. As a congregation, we are called to be intentional and thoughtful in this process, recognizing the importance of spiritual leadership in guiding our community. By seeking God's wisdom and direction, we can ensure that those chosen are equipped and called to serve in this vital role.

[15:06]

1 Timothy 3:1-2 (ESV): "The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach."

Reflection: Think of someone in your church community who exhibits qualities of spiritual leadership. How can you pray for them and support them in their potential calling to serve?

Day 2: Recognizing the Gravity of Sin

Sin is defined as any deliberate action that goes against God's will, making Him sad or angry. This understanding helps us recognize the gravity of our actions and their impact on our relationship with God. Sin separates us from God and often causes harm to ourselves and others. By acknowledging the seriousness of sin, we can better understand the need for repentance and the importance of seeking God's forgiveness. This awareness also encourages us to live in a way that aligns with God's will, striving to avoid actions that grieve Him.

[45:56]

James 4:17 (ESV): "So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin."

Reflection: Reflect on a recent action or decision that you know went against God's will. How can you seek God's forgiveness and make amends for this action today?

Day 3: Resisting Temptation

Temptation itself is not a sin; it becomes sin only when we act on it. Jesus was tempted but did not sin, showing us that experiencing temptation is a part of human life. Our goal is to resist temptation and seek God's strength to overcome it. By understanding the difference between temptation and sin, we can be more vigilant in our spiritual walk, recognizing when we are being tempted and taking steps to resist it. This involves relying on God's power and seeking His guidance in moments of weakness.

[49:13]

1 Corinthians 10:13 (ESV): "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."

Reflection: Identify a specific temptation you are currently facing. What practical steps can you take to resist this temptation and seek God's strength in overcoming it?

Day 4: Striving for Christian Perfection

John Wesley believed that Christian perfection, or living without sin, is possible through God's power. This involves a continuous process of spiritual growth and reliance on God's grace. While we may not achieve perfection immediately, we are called to strive towards it. This journey requires dedication, humility, and a willingness to be transformed by God's love. By focusing on spiritual growth and seeking to live in accordance with God's will, we can move closer to the ideal of Christian perfection.

[50:16]

Philippians 3:12-14 (ESV): "Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

Reflection: What areas of your life need growth and transformation to move closer to Christian perfection? How can you rely on God's grace to help you in this journey?

Day 5: The Power of Confession

True confession involves acknowledging our sins to God and seeking His forgiveness. While confessing to a trusted believer can be helpful, it is not a substitute for confessing to God. Regular confession helps us release guilt and shame, and strengthens our relationship with God. By being honest about our shortcomings and seeking God's mercy, we can experience spiritual renewal and a deeper connection with Him. This practice encourages us to live with integrity and humility, recognizing our need for God's grace.

[57:42]

1 John 1:9 (ESV): "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Reflection: Take a moment to confess any sins you are aware of to God. How does this act of confession bring you closer to Him and help you experience His forgiveness and grace?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we gathered to worship and discuss the process of nominating new servant leaders for our church. This is an important time for us as a community to discern who will guide us spiritually for the next two years. If you feel called to nominate someone, please reach out to me for the job description and further details. We also made some changes to our usual routine, including an earlier start to our discussion groups and a focus on deeper, more thoughtful engagement with the questions provided.

Our main topic today was sin—what it is, its impact, and how we can address it. Sin, as defined by Isaiah, Paul, and James, is anything we do that knowingly goes against God's will, making Him sad or angry. We discussed whether there are different categories of sin and concluded that sin is sin, regardless of its nature. Temptation itself is not a sin; it becomes sin only when we act on it. We also explored the concept of Christian perfection, which John Wesley believed is achievable through God's power over sin.

The practice of confession was highlighted as a crucial step in our spiritual journey. While confessing to a trusted believer can be therapeutic, true confession is directed to God. We are encouraged to confess our sins to God as soon as we recognize them, seeking His forgiveness and help to avoid future sins. This practice not only frees us from guilt and shame but also strengthens our relationship with God.

###

Key Takeaways

1. Nominating Servant Leaders: The process of nominating new servant leaders is a significant spiritual exercise for our community. It involves prayerful discernment and understanding the responsibilities involved. This is an opportunity to seek God's guidance in choosing those who will lead us in faith and service for the next two years. [15:06]
2. Understanding Sin: Sin is defined as any deliberate action that goes against God's will, making Him sad or angry. This understanding helps us recognize the gravity of our actions and their impact on our relationship with God. Sin separates us from God and often causes harm to ourselves and others. [45:56]
3. **Temptation vs. Sin**: Temptation itself is not a sin; it becomes sin only when we act on it. Jesus was tempted but did not sin, showing us that experiencing temptation is a part of human life. Our goal is to resist temptation and seek God's strength to overcome it. [49:13]
4. Christian Perfection: John Wesley believed that Christian perfection, or living without sin, is possible through God's power. This involves a continuous process of spiritual growth and reliance on God's grace. While we may not achieve perfection immediately, we are called to strive towards it. [50:16]
5. The Practice of Confession: True confession involves acknowledging our sins to God and seeking His forgiveness. While confessing to a trusted believer can be helpful, it is not a substitute for confessing to God. Regular confession helps us release guilt and shame, and strengthens our relationship with God. [57:42]
### [57:42]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[14:36] - Opening Worship and Announcements
[15:06] - Nominating Servant Leaders
[30:21] - Fellowship and Discussion Groups
[45:09] - Understanding Sin
[49:13] - Temptation vs. Sin
[50:16] - Christian Perfection
[57:42] - The Practice of Confession
[61:12] - Encouragement to Confess
[70:00] - Closing Prayer and Grace

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

According to the sermon, how is sin defined by Isaiah, Paul, and James? ([45:56])
What is the difference between temptation and sin as discussed in the sermon? ([49:13])
What did John Wesley believe about Christian perfection, and how is it achievable? ([50:16])
Why is the practice of confession important in our spiritual journey according to the sermon? ([57:42])

Interpretation Questions

How does the understanding of sin as anything that makes God sad or angry impact our daily actions and decisions? ([45:56])
In what ways can the distinction between temptation and sin help us in our spiritual battles? ([49:13])
What does striving for Christian perfection look like in practical terms, and how can we rely on God's grace in this process? ([50:16])
How can regular confession to God strengthen our relationship with Him and free us from guilt and shame? ([57:42])

Application Questions

Reflect on the process of nominating servant leaders. How can you participate in this process prayerfully and thoughtfully? ([15:06])
Think about a recent situation where you were tempted. How did you respond, and what can you do differently next time to resist temptation? ([49:13])
Identify an area in your life where you struggle with sin. How can you apply the practice of confession to seek God's forgiveness and help? ([57:42])
How can you support a fellow believer in their journey towards Christian perfection without falling into the sin of pride? ([50:16])
Consider the last time you confessed a sin to God. How did it affect your relationship with Him, and what steps can you take to make confession a regular practice? ([57:42])
How can you explain the concept of sin to someone who has never been part of the church in a way that is compassionate and understandable? ([45:56])
Reflect on the idea that sin separates us from God. What practical steps can you take to bridge that gap and draw closer to Him? ([45:56])

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "If we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we know we've been saved, right? And we know we've been saved. And we know we've been saved from our sin. But the problem is that we still sin. Most of us didn't achieve that marvelous state of Christian perfection the moment that we accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Most of us have still yet to get to that point where we choose not to sin, and more importantly, don't." [53:14] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Get into the habit of telling him you're really sorry for whatever you have done. Ask him for his forgiveness. Thank him that he has forgiven you. Ask for his help not to sin again. And then leave it with him. Knowing that he's not only forgiven you, but he's forgotten that you even sinned. And do the same for yourself. Forgive yourself. And put that sin out of your mind." [58:49] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Above all, let's be thankful that we have a, that we worship a God who knows all of our weaknesses and is prepared to forgive us when we do wrong and not only forgive us, but forget that we did it. A God who washes his hands of our sin. Amen." [01:01:12] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "So if we put all these together, we can say that sin is when we deliberately or voluntarily do things we know make God sad or angry. That's not good, eh? You don't like being sad? You don't like being sad, do you? It separates us from him and often hurts us and others. Now, if we think about it, that's a long list of things, potentially." [45:56] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Is it possible for us never to sin? Yes. And not just in heaven. It's possible not to sin here on earth. This is what we call Christian perfection, where we have the power over sin. Something that John Wesley concluded was possible from his reading of 1 John 3.9 and Romans 6. 1 John 3.9 says this, Those who have been born into God's family, do not make a practice of sinning because God's life is in them. So they can't keep on sinning because they are children of God." [49:13] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "We get there by confessing our sins, and so we come to this week's spiritual practice. Now, here, when you read your companion guide, you will see that the spiritual practice we are being introduced to and invited into this week is confession. That's great. We are invited to confess our sins to a trusted believer, based on James 5, verse 16. Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is, But I'm convinced that this is not how the practice of confession should be carried out." [54:51] (52 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Firstly, there is no time restriction on confessing our sins to God and on receiving his forgiveness. We can do it at any time for anything we've knowingly done, which is made up of our sins. We can do it at how long ago we did it. And in fact, the more we practice confessing our sins to God, the more he will bring to mind, because he knows how confessing our sins to him releases us from guilt and shame." [01:01:12] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "And so the practice I'm inviting you to work on this week is confession to God. Get into the practice of confessing your sins to God as soon as you realize you have sinned. No matter where you are or who you are. You don't have to say it out loud. God hears our thoughts when we direct them to him. In fact, he hears them when we don't direct them to him. But when we direct our thoughts, we can pray." [57:42] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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